GRIFFIN POV
The forest became denser as I continued my run. I pushed myself harder, feeling the strain in every muscle, welcoming the physical pain as distraction from my thoughts. My lycan form moved with speed no ordinary human could match, leaping over fallen logs and weaving between trunks with fluid grace.
Gradually, the blind rage and frustration began to fade. My breathing evened, and my mind cleared enough to think. I slowed my pace, eventually coming to a stop beside a small mountain stream. The water ran clear and cold over smooth stones, and I lowered my muzzle to drink deeply before shifting back to human form.
Naked and exhausted, I sat on a boulder by the water's edge, letting the cool night air dry the sweat from my skin. My thoughts inevitably turned to Nora.
Despite everything. Despite the bind thaf the sorceress had me in, despite my hatred for Carlos, I couldn't deny that something
NORA'S POVI stared out the window of my chambers, watching Carlos train with his warriors in the courtyard below. His movements were precise, and powerful.How could I reconcile these two versions of him? The gentle Carlos who I love so much, and the ons in my memory.The past two weeks had been a nightmare of confusion. Ever since I'd touched the pendant in that hidden room, memories had been returning in disjointed flashes. Scenes of violence and loss that left me breathless with grief and rage. And always at the center of these visions was Carlos, giving orders that resulted in flames and death.Yet something deep inside me resisted fully embracing these memories. Something whispered that there was more to the story, pieces I was still missing.A lot had been going on lately. I had intentionally kept my distance from Carlos. I was constantly struggling not to hate
Nora PovI ran through the woods, breathing heavily. My eyes staring ahead of the huge lavender tree upfront. I didn't care if my heart was about to fall off my chest, I was determined to get there in less than five minutes. I wanted to be strong for him. I ran like my life depends on it. Well, my heart depends on it. I hated when he looked at me with such disappointment. "Hey, weakling! Get the hell out of the way!" I heard a grumpy voice, running past me with speed. "She looks so pathetic running like that!" Another sneered, veering past me. "She must be human!" The first one spat out, following his colleague. "Fuck you both!" I spat out angrily, inside of me.As much as I wanted to tell them that, I don't want to look for trouble. I don't want my brother to be caught in-between his duty to the pack as the future beta and his duty as a brother to a pathetic loser like me.If I wasn't so unlucky, I was supposed to be ranked amongst the strongest werewolf in the pack. That's bec
Nora POVI stared at him, his cold-looking face, devoid of all emotions. He was staring blankly at me, as if I were some useless piece of trash. But those weren't the eyes that looked at me years ago. "I am your mate" I managed to blurt out, hating the question he just asked. My hands were shaking and I felt as though there were thousands of spears jabbed at my heart. How could he ask if he was going to accept me or not? If he wasn't going to accept me then what? He wouldn't… I felt shaken and I could feel my hands shaking nonstop. My eyes met his. He was looking emotionless as if I was nobody to him. Didn't he feel the slightest bond? "You think I will accept you?" His voice rang out, making my body shiver involuntarily. But there was a part of me deep down that hated those words.A part that wanted him to look at me like he did some years back. Being mates wasn't a child's play. He shouldn't joke like that. And that's when my ears picked the dreaded words. My legs almost gave w
Carlos POVTonight was the moonlight festival and I was happy my father just announced that I would be crowned this weekend. Just as my friends were congratulating me, I saw her.Nora Viking, the human girl who can't have a wolf. A weakling that needed to be protected every single time the rogues attacked. She couldn't even fend one of them off! Even when it was decided that she would be trained, it ended up badly because she fainted on all occasions.Three years ago, I met her alongside her brother, Justin. He was the son of my father's beta and my future beta too. She was beautiful. Very beautiful, that I instantly fell for her.But we haven't gotten our wolf then. I didn't know she was my mate. I waited eagerly for her to wolf out… I wish she was my mate. I thought she would be a strong female wolf just like the whole of their family.I wanted one, just like how my father got my mother, his perfect warrior mate. I wanted mine too. Was that too much to ask from the goddess? But th
NORA POVI got home, feeling devastated at what happened. I thought he was different from all the others. My heart bleeding in undeniable pain, I dragged my broken soul inside.I was about to push the door open when I heard whispers from my parents. A word penetrated into my ears, my hand on the door growing stiff.“ Do we tell her that she isn't our daughter? She is human. She would never get a wolf. I feel for how she is trying to be what she can never be," that was my dad's voice.“ I forbid it, Nathan. No one will tell my daughter anything. She is my child and I will protect her at all cost," my mother said, with finality in it.I wasn't too sure I heard it right, yet I wasn't ready to let it go. So, I pushed open the door as my heart prayed I heard wrongly. They couldn't be talking about me, right?“ Mum, dad… what's going on?” I asked, my eyes fighting off the wetness around it.As I watched the faces staring at me in shock and guilt, a pang of pain shot through my already damag
Nora POVI tried to open my eyes but the blinding light didn't let me. I stopped trying, letting the tears flow down my eyes. I was truly dead and in the afterlife with the moon goddess.Why did I give that bastard the satisfaction of seeing me dead? I was totally useless and worthless. Maybe I should hunt him in my ghost form, at least that would teach him a lesson.“ My princess, are you alright? Why are you crying?" I heard a melodious yet anxious voice in my head and a tap on my shoulder.Did I just hear someone calling me a princess? Was I the daughter of the moon goddess? That would be great! I could just ask my mother to give me the power to hunt that bastard Carlos! I quickly flung my eyes open, the blinding light piercing through it.“ Ah!" I let out a scream, immediately shutting it again.Even if she was the moon goddess, must everything inside her temple be white? I mean extremely white that I could swear it was all purely diamonds. Slowly, I opened my eyes as I tried to
Carlos' PovI went back home after rejecting the human girl. How could I accept such a weakling as my mate? I think the Moon goddess made a terrible mistake in pairing me with her. As I moved closer to the palace, I felt my heart about to explode from the pain of the mating bond. Nevertheless, I was glad I had cut off every attachment with her.I got to my chamber and lay on my bed, trying to put off whatever lingering emotions I was having for Nora. She wasn't worth my thoughts.If only her parents weren't the beta of the kingdom and her brother was my best friend, I would have kicked her out of the kingdom as soon as I found out she was human.Why would my father let a human live among us?“ You are my mate!"Her words echoed in my ears over and over again. Her broken eyes and shattered emotions tugging at my own heart. I swore it had taken me all my willpower to reject her. There was something trying to stop me. Furthermore, It was strange she could feel the mating bond when she
Carlos POV“ We found a piece of shoe belonging to Nora at the tip of the cliff. It's likely she jumped off the cliff,” One of the guards had reported through the general mindlink.I heard Justin's mumbling as he raced toward the direction. I also stood there perplexed for another five minutes before dashing over too.Deep down, I had started feeling guilty if ever it was true that Nora committed suicide by jumping off the cliff.“ It can't be true," I kept repeating Justin's denial to myself, convincing myself.I ran as fast as I could in my wolf form and got there a few seconds later than Justin. I walked briskly to the spot and indeed I could perceive the scent of Nora. Since we became mates, her scent was practically hovering around me even if it's a distance away.“ It's indeed my sister's shoe but maybe she lost it," Justin said, trying to convince himself.“ That could be true. We just need to wait for the guards patrolling the river side. If she fell off the cliff, we are like
NORA'S POVI stared out the window of my chambers, watching Carlos train with his warriors in the courtyard below. His movements were precise, and powerful.How could I reconcile these two versions of him? The gentle Carlos who I love so much, and the ons in my memory.The past two weeks had been a nightmare of confusion. Ever since I'd touched the pendant in that hidden room, memories had been returning in disjointed flashes. Scenes of violence and loss that left me breathless with grief and rage. And always at the center of these visions was Carlos, giving orders that resulted in flames and death.Yet something deep inside me resisted fully embracing these memories. Something whispered that there was more to the story, pieces I was still missing.A lot had been going on lately. I had intentionally kept my distance from Carlos. I was constantly struggling not to hate
GRIFFIN POVThe forest became denser as I continued my run. I pushed myself harder, feeling the strain in every muscle, welcoming the physical pain as distraction from my thoughts. My lycan form moved with speed no ordinary human could match, leaping over fallen logs and weaving between trunks with fluid grace.Gradually, the blind rage and frustration began to fade. My breathing evened, and my mind cleared enough to think. I slowed my pace, eventually coming to a stop beside a small mountain stream. The water ran clear and cold over smooth stones, and I lowered my muzzle to drink deeply before shifting back to human form.Naked and exhausted, I sat on a boulder by the water's edge, letting the cool night air dry the sweat from my skin. My thoughts inevitably turned to Nora.Despite everything. Despite the bind thaf the sorceress had me in, despite my hatred for Carlos, I couldn't deny that something
GRIFFIN POVMy heart clenched at the sight of my grandfather, or rather adopted grandfather. It's been five years since I came in contact with him, yet his domineering presence still lingered.I clenched my fist tightly, the stinging pain from Elder Silvarum's slap radiating through my body like fire. The force of it had been more than physical—there was magic in that strike, old magic that reminded me exactly who I was dealing with. My grandfather had always been formidable, but seeing the fury in his eyes now made me remember why he was feared even among the most powerful.His eyes glared into mine, demanding answers I couldn't give. The truth caught in my throat. How could even explain that the sorceress who saved me from death had bound me with magic so powerful that even speaking of our agreement would trigger unimaginable pain?"You disappoint me, Karen," Elder Silvarum said, using
CARLOS' POVBlood dripped from my split lip, and my ribs ached where Griffin landed a solid punch. But physical pain was nothing compared to the rage burning inside me."What have you done to Nora's memories?" I demanded.Griffin's smile was wolfish. "I simply helped her remember what you really are."Something changed in the air suddenly. A shift in energy that raised the hair on the back of my neck. Griffin rolled his shoulders, and I recognized the telltale signs of what was coming."You!" I accused. His only response was a low chuckle as his body began to change.The change took him quickly—bones cracking and reforming, skin stretching over growing muscle, human cries morphing into bestial growls. Where Griffin had stood moments ago, a massive wolf now crouched, teeth bared in challenge.I had no choice. I let my own transformation take me, embracing the pain as my body shifted forms. Within seconds, I sto
CARLOS POVI stared at Nora across the room. Her eyes, once warm and trusting, now held nothing but suspicion and anger. She had been questioning me for hours now without stopping. "The pendant," she said, her voice steady despite the emotion in her eyes. "The pendant I gave you. You rejected it, right?"I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. "The pendant? The same pendant you gave me? Come on Nora. None of those matters right now.""That's not what I asked." Her fingers tightened around the glass of water she held. "In my vision, I saw you reject it. I saw the look on your face. The look of disgust abd disdain. Why?"I remembered how I rejected Nora and her pendant. But telling her that now would only lead to more questions, questions that would inevitably reveal the worst of my past actions. It would only make her hate me even more. "I never rejected the pendant," I lied, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "You're remem
CARLOS POVI felt it without warning—a sudden rush of power surging through the walls of our home, the unmistakable energy signature of the pendant. It was the same overwhelming sensation I'd experienced during the war when the pendant's power had first manifested. My heart raced as I bolted upright from my desk, papers scattering to the floor unnoticed."Nora," I whispered, already running.I sprinted down the corridor towards the room. When I flung the door open, the room was empty, windows closed. I cursed under my breath. There was only one place she could be."The secret room," I muttered, increasing my steps. I feared for what was happening. I hoped that it was not what I was thinking, even though I was trying to prevent myself from thinking about it. I avoidedthe thoughts because it would only make me panic even more. As I raced through the winding passages of the house Elder Silvarum's warning echoed in my mind... "Keep
NORAI heard a voice calling my name, pulling me out of the swirling vortex of memories. The sound seemed to come from very far away at first, then gradually grew closer."Nora! Nora, can you hear me? Wake up!"My eyes fluttered open, struggling to regain focus. The room seemed dark at first, but gradually my eyes began to adjust. Not the secret chamber where I had passed, but our bedroom—familiar walls. I was lying in our bed. Carlos sat beside me, his face filled with worry and concern. "Thank god. You're finally awake Nora." Finally, relieve displayed on his features and he sighed deeply. I stared at him, trying to reconcile the man before me with the one in my memories—the one who had rejected me, sent wolves to push me off a cliff, the one who had nearly ended my life because I wasn't the right kind of wolf he wanted. I wondered if that was another dream? Waking up in the bedroom meant that I was dreaming
THIRD POV (Memories 2)The flood of memories continued filling Nora's unconscious form, each revelation more shocking than the last.A new face emerged from the swirling memories. The same face she had seen countless times in her dreams. The man she had always called Karen in her dreams stood before her in the palace training grounds, wooden practice sword in hand."Again," Karen commanded, circling Nora on the packed dirt of the training arena. "Your enemies won't give you time to catch your breath, Princess."Nora's younger self lunged forward, sweat dripping down her face as she executed a complex series of moves with her own practice sword. Though her muscles trembled with exhaustion, determination blazed in her eyes."Better," Karen said with a slight nod. "But your left side is still vulnerable. You have to put in more effort if you want to get it right."Nora thought that she had put in all the effort she could access and
THIRD POV (Memories 1)As Nora lay unconscious on the bare floor of the hidden chamber, her mind was floating in a sea of recovered memories. The first memory came in vivid detail. A warm summer evening, stars scattered across the sky like diamonds. A younger Nora stood before Carlos in an opening, her heart pounding with anticipation and filled with love. In her outstretched hands lay the pendant, its opal gleaming in the moonlight.Nora was smiling sheepishly. Although, she was shy... she still managed to do what she wanted to do. "I want you to have this," she told him, her voice trembling slightly. "I brought it for you. It's to show how deeply I love you." Carlos's face— younger, but with the same features, looked down at the pendant with an expression Nora couldn't quite read. She slightly lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling shy. "The moon goddess sees all true connections," Nora continued, hope evident in her voice. "Wi